NIBLACK PROJECT : http://www.niblackproject.com/ : Site Map
Project Benefits
From the beginning, Heatherdale has been committed to ensuring economic benefits from the Niblack Project are optimized for local residents, businesses and communities. This commitment has seen about $37 million invested in the SE Alaska project since 2009.
Niblack vendors include about 60 companies based in Ketchikan and other SE Alaskan communities. Niblack has also developed a strategic alliance with the Prince of Wales Tribal Enterprise Consortium (POWTEC) to provide environmental, logistical and employment services. POWTEC is a subsidiary of POWTEC Holding Company LLC which is 100% owned by two federally recognized tribes on Prince of Wales Island -- Craig Tribal Association (CTA) and the Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK).
During mine operations, Niblack has the potential to provide 200 full-time jobs, with about two-thirds of workers at the mine site and one-third at the mill. During the mill construction phase, an estimated workforce of 200 would be needed. Heatherdale believes the economic benefits from production at Niblack will be comparable to those generated at the Greens Creek mine, one of the largest private sector employers in the Juneau area.
Potential mill site locations
Heatherdale's investigations to date suggest there will be both economic and logistical advantages to barging mineralized material from Niblack to an offsite location for mill processing, rather than processing it at the mine site. Important criteria for selection of a suitable offsite milling location include:
Existing power infrastructure, near tidewater with deep draft port;
Accessibility to local workforce; and
Location in SE Alaska.
Heatherdale was approached by several private and public entities with available sites for consideration.
Heatherdale has gone through a detailed evaluation of the potential sites and narrowed the list down to a few very good candidates. The sites under consideration include:
Gravina Island Industrial Complex, which was brought to the company by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough;
ATL site on Alaska State Mental Health Trust lands; and
Tolstoi site on Sealaska Native Corporation lands.
The Gravina Island Industrial Complex is currently the leading option and presents clear advantages for off-site processing and the safe, permanent storage of associated tailings. In October 2012, Heatherdale and the Ketchikan Gateway Borough reached a Memorandum of Understanding to define the process by which both parties would investigate the suitability of the Gravina Island site for this land use.
Heatherdale's mineral exploration and development activities at Niblack have the potential to create direct and indirect employment and business opportunities for people and companies that are located near its operations.
Heatherdale stands behind its commitment to be a good neighbor and good corporate citizen in SE Alaska. The company intends to continue to hire locally whenever possible, and to provide priority consideration to local people for employment opportunities and to local businesses for supply and service contracts, based on qualifications and merit. Heatherdale is also committed to ensuring that residents have access to workforce training to maximize the opportunities for local employment.
While the Niblack Project is currently at an advanced exploration stage, it is expected that greater employment and contracting opportunities will be created as the project moves forward.
Did you know there are more than 120 occupations in the mining industry? An operating mine offers a wide range of vocational opportunities, such as jobs for engineers, geologists, accountants, human resource managers, environmental specialists, tradesmen, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, processing plant operators, general labourers, clerical staff and other employees as necessary.
